Modulated antenna for wireless communications

Abstract

A system comprises a first sensing device, a first Sterba Curtain, and a first modulating device communicatively coupling the first sensing device to the first Sterba Curtain. The first sensing device is configured to sense at least a first parameter. The first Sterba Curtain is configured to receive at least a first incident electromagnetic wave and to selectively transmit and reflect portions of the first incident electromagnetic wave. The first modulating device is configured to selectively convey a first signal representing the first parameter by modulating at least one of a first transmitted component of the first incident electromagnetic wave and a first reflected component of the first incident electromagnetic wave.

1. A system comprising:
 a first sensing device configured to sense at least a first parameter; 
 a first Sterba Curtain configured to receive at least a first incident electromagnetic wave, the first Sterba Curtain configured to selectively transmit and reflect portions of the first incident electromagnetic wave, wherein the first Sterba Curtain includes at least one main loop twisted to create a first number of smaller full-loops and a second number of smaller half-loops, wherein the first Sterba Curtain has substantially greater electromagnetic reflectivity when the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain is closed than when the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain is open; and 
 a first modulating device communicatively coupling the first sensing device to the first Sterba Curtain, the first modulating device configured to alternatively open and close the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain to change the electromagnetic reflectivity of the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain to selectively convey a first signal representing the first parameter by modulating at least one of:
 a first transmitted component of the first incident electromagnetic wave; and 
 a first reflected component of the first incident electromagnetic wave. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit at least an emitted electromagnetic wave, wherein the first incident electromagnetic wave comprises at least a portion of the emitted electromagnetic wave; and 
 a receiver configured to receive at least a received electromagnetic wave, wherein the received electromagnetic wave comprises at least a portion of at least one of:
 the modulated first transmitted component of the first incident electromagnetic wave; and 
 the modulated first reflected component of the first incident electromagnetic wave. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modulating device is at least one of a transistor and a diode. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the modulating device is at least one of a field-effect transistor and a bipolar junction transistor. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second sensing device configured to sense at least a second parameter; 
 a second Sterba Curtain configured to receive at least a second incident electromagnetic wave, the second Sterba Curtain configured to selectively transmit and reflect portions of the second incident electromagnetic wave, wherein the second Sterba Curtain includes at least a second main loop twisted to create a third number of smaller full-loops and a fourth number of smaller half-loops, wherein the second Sterba Curtain has substantially greater electromagnetic reflectivity when the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain is closed than when the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain is open; and 
 a second modulating device communicatively coupling the second sensing device to the second Sterba Curtain, the second modulating device configured to alternatively open and close the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain to change the electromagnetic reflectivity of the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain to selectively convey a second signal representing the second parameter by modulating at least one of:
 a second transmitted component of the second incident electromagnetic wave; and 
 a second reflected component of the second incident electromagnetic wave. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit at least an emitted electromagnetic wave, wherein the first incident electromagnetic wave comprises at least a portion of the emitted electromagnetic wave; and 
 a receiver configured to receive at least a received electromagnetic wave, wherein the received electromagnetic wave comprises at least a portion of the modulated second transmitted component of the second incident electromagnetic wave. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second incident electromagnetic wave comprises at least a portion of the modulated first transmitted component of the first incident electromagnetic wave or the first reflected component of the second incident electromagnetic wave. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second incident electromagnetic wave comprises at least a portion of the modulated first transmitted component of the first incident electromagnetic wave or the first reflected component of the second incident electromagnetic wave. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second signal is at a first logic level when the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain is open; and
 wherein the second signal is at a second logic level when the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain is closed. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second reflected component of the second incident electromagnetic wave is increased relative to the second transmitted component of the second incident electromagnetic wave when the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain is closed by the second modulating device. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second transmitted component of the second incident electromagnetic wave is increased relative to the second reflected component of the second incident electromagnetic wave when the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain is closed by the second modulating device. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second reflected component of the second incident electromagnetic wave is increased relative to the second transmitted component of the second incident electromagnetic wave when the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain is closed by the second modulating device; and
 wherein the second transmitted component of the second incident electromagnetic wave is increased relative to the second reflected component of the second incident electromagnetic wave when the at least the second main loop of the second Sterba Curtain is closed by the second modulating device. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first logic level is high when the second logic level is low and the second logic level is high when the first logic level is low. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first signal is at a first logic level when the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain is open; and
 wherein the first signal is at a second logic level when the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain is closed. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reflected component of the first incident electromagnetic wave is increased relative to the first transmitted component of the first incident electromagnetic wave when the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain is closed by the first modulating device. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmitted component of the first incident electromagnetic wave is increased relative to the first reflected component of the first incident electromagnetic wave when the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain is opened by the first modulating device. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reflected component of the first incident electromagnetic wave is increased relative to the first transmitted component of the first incident electromagnetic wave when the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain is closed by the first modulating device; and
 wherein the first transmitted component of the first incident electromagnetic wave is increased relative to the first reflected component of the first incident electromagnetic wave when the at least one main loop of the first Sterba Curtain is opened by the first modulating device. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first logic level is high when the second logic level is low and the second logic level is high when the first logic level is low.